Jia Sixie

Jia Sixie, one of the leading agronomists in Chinese history, was born in Yidu county (today`s Shouguang city) in the reign of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty at the end of 5th century. Around 533 to 544, he finished the famous agricultural encyclopedia Qimin Yaoshu (Essential Skills for the Common People). The book, which has 92 chapters in 10 volumes and nearly 120,000 characters, covers a wide range of topics and records on production experiences and methods. It includes advice on farming, forestry, animal husbandry, fishery and sideline occupations. Besides, it also includes much ancient agricultural lore, which had been recorded in some books like Sisheng Book and Simin Yueling, which are not existent now. Because of the quotation and reference by Qimin Yaoshu, that important knowledge had been saved. In the preface of the book, he attached great importance to agriculture and he believed that the development of agriculture could help the poor farmers out, and could bring the country prosperity and peace. He listed a lot of historical figures such as Guan Zhong, Shang Yang, Li Kui, Chao Cuo, Geng Shouchang and Sang Hongyang to demonstrate his viewpoint. He believed agricultural production needed constant reform and he often ridiculed those conservatives who stuck to the old way of farming. He had a rigorous scholarship attitude. He said in the preface he had analyzed, sorted out the ancient agricultural books, songs and ballads, the experiences he learned from seasoned senior peasants, and his own practices, resulting in this huge book. This book referred to more than 150 books, recorded over 30 agricultural proverbs. Some of his views, such as farming in accordance with natural laws, farming rotation and use of green fertilizer, were very new and creative. At that time, he had realized the interaction between creatures and environment, and biological and genetic variation phenomenon. The book also included some advanced production of artificial cultivation, such as selection and breeding new varieties. Qimin Yaoshu, an important summary of farming knowledge, has been extensively appreciated and praised by both domestic and foreign experts.